The threat landscape is wide—and ever-changing. But some attack methods come up over and over. From my field work with SMEs across Bengaluru and SMEs in India, here are the top ten threats that keep me watching the logs at 2 AM:
Email Phishing Attacks
Phishing remains the #1 root cause in breaches. You’ll get emails that look almost real but redirect you to credential-stealing sites or drop malware. It only takes one successful click.
Ransomware Infections
Ransomware continues to cripple companies. Beyond paying a ransom, you’re looking at downtime, reputation loss, and recovery costs in the lakhs.
Business Data Breaches
Data exfiltration—from HR systems, pricing files, or even WhatsApp groups—can cost you trust and legal fines. A small leak can do real financial damage.
Weak Password Security
Reused or weak passwords are an open invitation. When one credential leaks, it can domino—leading to account takeover or lateral movement within your network.
Unpatched Software Vulnerabilities
A missed Windows or router update? That’s a direct path in for attackers. Regular patching is cheap insurance.
Security Vulnerabilities in Web Apps
If you’re hosting a web portal or client login, attacks like SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and unvalidated encryption still cause pain. These are exploitable even by automated bots.
Insider Threats
Either malicious or accidental, a staff member with overprivileged access can cause havoc. Viewing logs and anomaly detection is vital here.
Network & Infrastructure Attacks
DDoS, misconfigured subnets, exposed RDP or SSH ports—they’re all easy pickings for bots and unsophisticated hackers.
Supply-Chain Cyber Attacks
Compromise your vendor, you could be breached. We’ve seen cases where small MSSPs were used as pivot points into larger customer networks.
Advanced Persistent Threats (APT)
State-sponsored or well-funded actors targeting specific industries—typically finance or telecom—can quietly reside inside your network for months, gathering intelligence.
How Small Businesses Are Especially Vulnerable
Small firms don’t have security teams, budgets, or visibility tools. They rely on general IT people juggling too many roles. Attackers know this and scan those networks for low-hanging fruit.
The Financial Toll of Ransomware
Every ransomware event adds up: ransom amount, recovery costs (backup restoration, forensic analysis, system replacement), plus business disruption. For mid-sized businesses, that’s easily ₹5–20 lakhs before breakers even call you for help.
Why Email Phishing Is So Dangerous
Once attackers own your credentials, they can pose as a trusted insider—requesting wire transfers, changing payroll info, or installing malware. Phishing is how they breach the outerline and then move sideways.
Final Words
Industry cybersecurity isn’t abstract. It’s about these real threats—phishing, ransomware, weak passwords, unpatched systems, insider risk, supply-chain, APT. If your business still treats cybersecurity as optional, you’re effectively leaving your door unlocked.
Reach out if you’d like a free threat assessment or remediation roadmap built for your specific industry—without the buzzwords or vendor hype.
